And when ill befell the Cave People, One Ear told them it had been caused by the evil spirit of Big Foot and when they escaped from these evils, he reported how the spirit of Strong Arm had befriended the tribe. Always was One Ear dreaming dreams. He told how the spirit of Strong Arm had counselled the people to make of Big Nose their leader and chief, which they did.
As he grew in years and in power, One Ear demanded that the best joints of meat, the warmest place by the fire, the safest cave or hut, be his portion. These things he declared were the commands of Strong Arm.
And so One Ear became a great man of the tribe. When the forest fire swept the plains and drove the wild fowl and the forest animals far inland, and brought famine to the Cave People, One Ear reported that the spirit of Strong Arm had done these things to punish the people because they had not brought young fowl, of which he was very fond, every day to One Ear.
Thus One Ear became the first priest of the tribe, protected before other men in order that the good spirits might not take vengeance upon the tribe should ill befall him. People brought him sharp knives and soft skins with which he made himself warm when the far northern winds blew cold in the winter time. And One Ear said good words to the great spirits for these bearers of gifts, so that they might be prospered and escape the sharp tooth of the crocodile.
By and by there came other dreamers of dreams who spoke with the great spirits and also brought messages to the people. Strong arms of the tribe clashed and there were great battles among the Cave People, till the Pretenders were slain, when once more peace and harmony reigned within the valley upon the shores of the great lake.
QUESTIONS
For Those Holding Classes in Sociology for Children.
I
THE FIRE BEAST
1 In what sort of a climate may we expect to find prehistoric man during the period of Lower Savagery, when he was without tools or weapons except of the most primitive kind? Why? 2 Since agriculture in that early day was wholly unknown and unnecessary, on what did the people subsist? 3 Did they cook their food? Why not? 4 Imagine yourself placed upon an uninhabited island without food, clothing or shelter in answering these questions. What sorts of shelter did the tribes possess, if any? 5 What sorts of weapons can you fancy people would be able to make without tools, metals or fire? 6 What would you consider the very greatest discovery made by early man? Why? 7 How was man able to protect himself from the wild beasts during the periods of Savagery? 8 How were the enemies of man captured and slain in these days? 9 Why do we find the tribes of this period always dwelling close to lakes, rivers or other bodies of water? 10 How do we gather that people in the period of Lower Savagery must have lived either in tropical or semi-tropical regions?